For now, the two firms will operate independently, and it will be business as usual for Dropcam users. But eventually, "we'll incorporate Dropcam into how we do business at Nest. That includes how we handle everything from customer support to customer privacy," Matt Rogers, Nest founder and head of engineering, wrote in a blog post. Ultimately, Nest wants to
"reinvent products that will help shape the future of the conscious home."

Dropcam produces small cameras that let users monitor their homes from afar, while Nest has tackled the digital home with the Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Protect smoke alarm. According to Rogers, Nest looked at a number of different camera companies before making an offer to Dropcam. "I can say without a doubt, Dropcam has the best products, services, and customer experience in the business," he wrote.

"Many of you already own Dropcam products and have asked if we could make them work with Nest," he continued "Today, we're one step closer to making that happen."

In a separate blog post, Dropcam co-founder Greg Duffy said "Nest and Dropcam are kindred spirits. Both were born out of frustration with outdated, complicated products that do the opposite of making life better."

Duffy founded Dropcam with Aamir Virani in 2009 "with a simple mission  to help you know what goes on at home when you aren't there," he wrote. "We had both seen our dads struggle with 'IP cameras' and traditional security cameras that were some combination of hard to use, expensive, and low quality."

Over the years, PCMag has reviewed the Dropcam Echo, HD, and Pro (pictured above), each of which was an improvement over the last, with the $199 Pro earning our Editors' Choice. "You don't even need pan or tilt, as the high-resolution, wide-angle lens on the new Dropcam Pro can zoom in and see anything. It's the best consumer-grade video-surveillance camera we've tested," we found last year.

Nest, meanwhile, was acquired by Google in January for $3.2 billion. It was in the news recently after a glitch with the Nest Protect smoke alarm forced it to temporarily halt sales. The device included a feature that allowed users to turn off the alarm with a wave of the hand, but during internal testing, the company found that "a unique combination of circumstances" could unintentionally activate Wave, therefore delaying an alarm in the event of an actual fire.

About the Author

Before joining PCMag.com, Chloe covered financial IT for Incisive Media in NYC and technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's deg... See Full Bio

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